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Toquart
Bay
The Toquart Bay Recreation Site is located on the edge of Barley
Sound on Vancouver Island, east of Ucluelet
on the traditional lands of the Toquaht First Nations, a member
of the larger Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council.
Temporarily
Closed
Please note, as of March 21, 2013 the facility has been temporarily
shut down because of health concerns.
Maggie
Lake Forest Service Road
To get here you have to go west of Port
Alberni on Hwy 4 towards Ucluelet. Just before Ucluelet, about
the halfway point along Kennedy Lake, is the turnoff for the maintained
year-round Maggie Lake Forest Service Road; turn here. From this
junction, there is another 16 km (10 miles) of fairly good gravel
road to the Toquart Bay Recreation Site.
Please
Check In
Upon arrival, although you'll be distracted by the beauty, the very
first thing you want to do is check in and register at the office
near the bottom of the hill. The manager of the marina and the very
helpful people running the campground don't mind people visiting
the facility but need to keep a tight control on where vehicles
park. A lot of times in the past people have roared in and out making
dust or have parked in a reserved site and have disappeared out
on their kayaks or beachcombing.
Facilities
The recreation site is very reasonably priced for all the facilities
and outdoor recreation offered including a protected marina, a concreted
boat launch for easy access for any size boat and trailer, overnight
vehicle storage, and a large parking for boat trailer, day-use area
and campground.
Family-Oriented
Atmosphere Campground
Toquart Bay Recreation Site offers a family-oriented atmosphere
in a very relaxed setting along the ocean. Most of the 80 designated
campsites are along or close to water's edge with well-made fire-pits.
The campground facilities include a lawn area, pit-toilets and one
water station not suitable for drinking, only grey water disposal
station for campers. A very large load of firewood is available
for a nominal fee.
Beach
One part of the beach is made up of fine sand, making it very suitable
for dry launch kayaks or canoes into the surf. The other half of
the beach area is quite rocky with an estuary coming from one side
of a large spit with campsites alongside.
Barkley
Sound
Toquart Bay offers a perfect staging point for people visiting the
Broken Group Islands in the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve and
the rest of Barkley Sound. The site also offers, for people who
like to fish, an area of superb opportunities with a large bounty
of salmon, crabs, prawns, oysters, clams and rockfish for the taking
in the near ocean and islands off Toquart Bay in Barkley Sound.
Bald
Eagles
For bird and wildlife opportunities, Toquart Bay is alive with action,
including all types of birds, especially Bald Eagles soaring amongst
the high trees or viewing whales while boating or kayaking. Other
people have witnessed Black Bears feeding along the water's edge
from their kayaks in the ocean surf or Bald Eagles catching fish
in their talons.
Toquart
Bay Store
There is very little for supplies and services besides the marina
at Toquart Bay. There is though the small Toquart Bay Store situated
back at the First Nation settlement of Macoah 4 km (2.5 miles) back
towards Hwy 4. Here you can find snacks, drinks, convenience items,
some groceries, camping supplies, oil, fuel including propane, fishing
licences, fishing gear, navigational charts, souvenirs plus block
and cube ice.
Information
on Toquart Bay
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